Retaining cup for lenses and the like



June 4, 1935. A coM 2,003,379

RETAINING CUP FOR LENSES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 29, 1952 Patented June 4, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RETAINING CUP FOR LENSES AND THE LIKE 1 Claim.

My invention relates more especially to cups for receiving and holding lenses and involving means whereby the cups are firmly clamped to the body of the article, such as vizors, goggles and the like.

The invention involves a continuous shell provided at One end with an inturned flange and the side walls of the shell upset into a pair of outwardly disposed flange portions between which the material of the vizor or goggle is firmly clamped. That is to say, the invention involves a single piece element for holding the lens and for securing the cup to the vizor or other article.

The invention will be readily comprehended from the following description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of a goggle provided with my improved lens holding cups.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view of the lens holding cup with a lens also in section; illustrating the initial condition of the cup.

Figure 3 is a similar view illustrating the final condition of cup with portions of the material of a goggle or vizor clamped by the cup wall.

In the particular exempliflcation I have shown my invention as a lens holding cup secured to a goggle; although it will be understood that my improved cup may be used with vizors or other articles provided with sight-openings and that perforated elements or screens may be employed instead of glass lenses.

In the drawing the wall or body I!) of the goggle may be of any suitable material provided at proper points with annular sight openings.

My improved cups II, II consist of cylindrical shells of deformable material, preferably thin sheet metal, which are initially formed to provide an inturned flange l2 at one of the ends to form a seat for the lens or disc l3; while the wall of each shell intermediate of the ends is formed with an outwardly disposed annular corrugation M. This corrugation is preferably arranged substantially midway between the ends of the shell a distance removed from the lens-seat so as to provide sufiicient metal between the corrugation and the opposite end of the shell as shown at 15 in Figure 2.

The cup, formed as just described, with the lens l3 inserted in place as shown in Figure 2, is then deformed, by suitable means, so as to slightly contract or reduce the diameter of the cup adjacent to the lens-seat as shown at IS in Figure 3; while the walls or sides of the corrugation I4 are forced into parallel snug relation to provide the rearwardly sloping goggle or other material engaging flange portion l1; and the end l5 of the cup folded inwardly parallel with the flange portion I! into the outwardly opening material receiving annular channel or groove I8; with the perimetrical portion l9 flared outwardly.

It will be understood, of course, that before the cup forming shell is subjected to the operation whereby it is deformed into the final shape shown in Figure 3, the shell with the lens as shown in Figure 2 is inserted through suitable sight-openings in the vizor or goggle and that these openings are of size just suflicient to receive the inner ends of the shells, namely rearward of the corrugation [4, in order that the material 20 around the openings will be enfolded by the side walls of the groove I8 when the walls of the shell are forced into the position described.

By employing thin sheet metal, the deforming condition shown in Figure 3 may be accomplished in a single operation, with the result that considerable time and labor heretofore required in 1 forming lens holding cups and securing them in place will be eliminated; while at the same time the lens will not only be firmly held on its seat, but the cup will be securely fastened to the vizor, goggle, or other article.

It will be seen that the diameter of the cup intermediate of the lens and the original corrugation I4 is slightly reduced as shown at l 6 thereby maintaining the lens l3 against the flange [2. By collapsing the side walls of the corrugation l4 toward each other into the rearwardly sloping flange portion IT, with the material 20 in the annular channel or groove l8 sloping forwardly, a firm gripping relation between the cup and material is provided, whereby accidental removal of the cup is impossible.

My improved single piece eye-cup of thin sheet metal can be more quickly and cheaply made than heretofore has been the case, with the result that a great saving in time and labor is obtained; and while I have shown and described the cup as especially adapted for securing lenses in place, it is apparent that it may be employed for other uses or purposes without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

A retaining cup of the character described comprising a single piece cylindrical shell composed of deformable metal provided at one end with an inturned flange adapted to form a lens seat, the diameter of the shell adjacent to said flange and rearward of the lens seat being reduced to provide an inwardly bowed portion whereby movement of the lens off its seat is prevented, the cylindrical wall of the shell rearward of said bowed portion being expanded outwardly beyond the normal diameter of the shell and said portion collapsed inwardly upon itself in a reen- 5 trant manner and thence bent outwardly to provide an outwardly opening material receiving groove disposed in a forwardly sloping manner while the perimeter of said end is flared outwardly and partially across the open end of said groove to provide an annular material gripping portion.

ROBERT MALCOM. 

